Our weekly email news letter. Sign up here to get them delivered straight to your email in box. See below for previous issues...

Please note that product availability and prices may have changed from when this newsletter was sent. Please check this site or phone us for current availability and pricing.

Friday 2nd December, 2016

Hi

Deck the halls with boughs of Ilex Fa la lala lala la la la la Hmmm doesn't have quite the right ring to it, Huh..... I think that we'll stick to the common name of Holly.

There are all kinds of Holly but most of us would probably think of something with a really prickly glossy green leaf and tiny whitish flowers that produce clusters of bright red berries that we all associate with Christmas.   I have to say that this is probably the classic form and its home country is in the northern hemisphere being western and southern Europe. I have always known that Holly has always been used in Christmas decorations mostly wreaths and in illustrations on Xmas cards  and of course some lyrics but I didn't know that it can be also known as Christs Thorn. 

I am not so good on my Christmas carols but the ancient Carol 'The Holly and the Ivy' apparently originates from pagan times and the version that I should be familiar with was first published by Cecil Sharpe.... I am concluding that the wreath is the construction of the prickly leaves of holly, the green twining of the ivy and the red berries of the holly.....Holly represents Jesus and the Ivy represents the Virgin Mary.

The christian use of Holly theorises that ... the sharpness of the leaves symbolise the crown of thorns worn by Jesus and the red berries as a reminder of the drops of blood that were shed for salvation. The shape of the leaves resembling flames can serve to symbolise Gods burning love for the people. Combine all of that and knowing that holly maintains its bright colours during the Christmas season it has also become associated with the Christian holiday. 

Well except for us downunder! Our classic holly has a different spring and winter, so the berries colour up not so with the mythology, as in Europe, but in our autumn to winter which is in time for our mid winter xmas parties instead!!!

                

Now that we have sorted the mythology of Holly lets get down to the nitty gritty of how we get the berries.... (lol the birds and the bees) and yes Holly is pollinated by bees but the berries are only produced by female plants. Of course for berries to happen there has to be an obliging male holly plant within bee flying distance. The technical word for plants that have separate male and female plants is called dioecious and whilst most of the holly are like this there are some species of Holly that are different again.  I admit that I assumed the self fertile forms or species of holly were monoecious (perfect flowers with both male and female bits and pieces) but no, I learnt that the Ilex Burfordii is a female and able to make berries without  an obliging  male  for pollination.....  technically called being parthenocarpic. 

I like Holly and the our big hedge on the road side is a fine example of Aquifolium that has been grown from seed  and yes is a big mix of boy and girl plants. Its is really prickly and that suits our purpose but you'd think that its horrid to cut but its not so bad..... the secret to cutting it is to pick up the leaves whilst they are still green because once they dry they are like needles.

Not all Holly's are prickly, Ilex cornuta burfordii  which is a self fertile form has only one spine at the end of its leaf. Ilex crenata is also know as the box holly and looks so similar to buxus and of course no spines at all. Ilex Blue angel looks like it could be prickly but in reality its leaves are soft but needs a mate of blue prince to get berries. Ilex lago doesn't really have a spine at all and is quite an attractive lime green.

To conclude Ilex/Hollies make for great shrubs or small trees that prefer full sun and sharp drainage and are typically with lovely glossy foliage. They make for great hedges,  small trees and or topiary work.

Hot in the garden centre...

            

Standard Icebergs... didn't think that we were going to have any more of these until next winter but hey when they get offered you don't say no. Iceberg White 80cm std normally $49.99 these are just $44.99 but there are only 60 so first in first to get. Standard Iceberg White 50cm std ... there is a handful of these as well  $44.99 these are going out at $39.99.

Standard fuchsias. Fresh in this week and are just listed as mixed cultivars so best to come and see if you have a hankering for one of these. Would look awesome in a pot or maybe as a gift.

Christmas trees for pots 

Pohutukawa... The NZ option for a native Christmas tree and would do so well in a pot. Plants are approx 1.5 metres tall and I think that they are mostly still coming up to flower.... Choose from  Pohutakawa Maori princess or Vibrance.

            

Picea  There are also a few the of Picea family  like  Baby blue, Orientalis, Smithiana and Abies which are of smaller grades that would suit a cute little pot to use as a table top Christmas tree.  Excellent pot subjects as they are very tolerant of high light and periods of being dryish so don't over water these babies, though i have to say don't let them dry out excessively either. 

Pinus options are Pinea and Patula which would also make a lovely table top or patio tree.

Deals down the hill 

I was re blocking down the lower level of the nursery the other day and there are some quite cool plants down there at some steal prices...,. First up on my list would have to be... 

Plumbago Alba the white form of the classic powder blue Plumbago and my first thought were this would make some one an awesome informal hedge with white flowers. It would best suit somewhere where it wouldn't be exposed to too much frost in the winter but there are plenty of micro climates in town.  These normally $14.99 now just $7.99. 

Allamanda now this is a plant that I don't know, well maybe I do there is a climbing form that I may know of! Anyways its a very pretty shrub. A tropical like plant with yellow flowers that looks like they flower all of the time. I imagine that it could be frost tender but certainly would suit coastal and Auckland areas maybe even Hamilton city areas. Imagine it would look fab as a highlight in a subtropical garden.... A bargain at $19.99 down to $15.99 and $24.99 to $19.99.

Odontonema strictum.... Firespike  Amazing what you find when you are cleaning and reblocking the nursery, Harry must have scored these when I wasn't looking.  Another one well suited to that sub tropical looking garden with stunning tall bright red flowers. I could imagine these and the Allamanda being planted with Ligularia reniformis (tractor seat plant) Hostas, Liriopes Renga rengas and even Cannas. Nice plants $14.99 down to $9.99.

            

Tibouchina or some will know it as Lassiandra but renown for being a largish shrub with velvety leaves and those bright purple flowers. Another one for the warmer places but will certainly suit the warm areas of town. Easy to grow. Edwardsii variety is down from $14.99 to just $9.99.

Ligularia Martian Invader. I love this plant because it has amazing crinkly edged leaves that are the same shape as the tractor seat plant.... hardly surprising as they are related . This one really suits a shady position coping with quite dry through to quite moist, another awesome foliage plant.$14.99 these just $8.99.. A great grade for mass planting.

Pseudopanax purpurea  the purple form of the native coastal five finger which grows in to a largish shrub. A good choice for a sunny and drier position.  good foliage  that would suit a foliage garden and suitable for coastal planting. $14.99 nice grade at only $9.99.

Coprosma compacta  a hardy shrubby and compact form of Coprosma that has quite a small leaf would look great if contrasted against some good dark green leaves again suit a foliage garden. responds well to being trimmed. $14.99 these to go at $9.99.

Coprosma kirkii and kirkii gold stream Vigorous and robust ground cover that would suit covering a sunny and poor soil bank...easy to grow. Awesome grade for mass planting $10.99 down to $5.99.

         

House keeping

Opening Hours... Wairere will only be closed for Xmas day otherwise we will be open all normal hours of 8.30 am to 5 pm  LOL someone has to make sure that the watering has been done. The gardens will be open as well in case you have visitors and just want to come out for a browse over the holiday period. If you do have visitors and have a need for accommodation then don't forget that we have Kahikatea Homestead available. Its a three bedroom villa that is fully set up for self contained accommodation.  If you need it for an extended period email us direct for a competitive rate. www.kahikateahomestead.nz

Don't forget to check out our facebook page. 

Mail order and deliveries 

Last dispatch day for the year will be Wednesday the 21st of December 2016 and will resume on Tuesday the 10th January 2017. There will be no mail orders during the two short week holiday period. If orders are made then these will be held until the 10th of January. If you want some plants to be dispatched then the next two weeks will be the best to get them on their way.

Its that time when things start to get hectic... Christmas shopping to be done, pre Christmas work functions to be had not to mention gardens to bring up to scratch, holidays to organise. Many will be taking well earned breaks in and around the weekends and over the stats of Christmas and the new year period. 

Stay sane on the roads, have a great weekend and take it easy out there!!!

Ciao

Lloyd, Harry and the Wairere Team

Make it a Wairere weekend where even GNOMES know that gardening's not a drag.

Archived by year 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 | 2013 | 2012 | 2011 | 2010 |

2016 Newsletters...

Picnic....ing in the shade (28th January, 2016)

Wairere Newsletter 5th feb (3rd February, 2016)

To Run or Not to Run... (19th February, 2016)

Wairere Newsletter 02 Mar (1st March, 2016)

Camellia time (11th March, 2016)

Magnolia or Michelia (17th March, 2016)

Easter weekend (24th March, 2016)

HW or LW Trees (3rd April, 2016)

Evergreen Trees (13th May, 2016)

All about shrubs (20th May, 2016)

Rose Time (27th May, 2016)

Frosty Friday (3rd June, 2016)

Tiny Camellias (9th June, 2016)

Gorgeous Trees (24th June, 2016)

wet wet wet (1st July, 2016)

Burgundy foliage (8th July, 2016)

Fruit trees abound (15th July, 2016)

Fruit Tree Pruning and Flowering Cherries (21st July, 2016)

Cider apples (29th July, 2016)

August already (4th August, 2016)

wood pigeons (7th August, 2016)

Feed Time (19th August, 2016)

Magnolia's and Cider Apples (20th August, 2016)

its Official (2nd September, 2016)

Spring shrubs (7th September, 2016)

Spring Shrubs2 (7th September, 2016)

Spring Shrubs 2 (7th September, 2016)

Tricky Tasks (16th September, 2016)

climbers (23rd September, 2016)

Wairere Newsletter 23 Sep (23rd September, 2016)

Beards are in vogue (23rd September, 2016)

Gin Oclock (14th October, 2016)

????Kumaras are in (20th October, 2016)

summer is coming (27th October, 2016)

Plants for eating (2nd November, 2016)

November 11 (10th November, 2016)

Hamilton Gardens (17th November, 2016)

Xmas Trees (22nd November, 2016)

..... Holly

Xmas Brekkie (9th December, 2016)

Merry Xmas (16th December, 2016)

HL Nurseries Limited t/a Wairere Nursery
826 Gordonton Road, R D 1, Hamilton 3281 Ph: (07) 824 3430 Email: